Calc AB vs BC?

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

Hi, I have a quick question.

It’s more for my friend really, but he basically wants to be a computer engineer. He got a C in Honors Precalculus, mainly due to the rigor from jumping from regular to honors math. But, his teacher wants him to take calc ab. He insists on taking BC for being an engineer, but I wonder if taking that one math class really matters? You could be an engineer even if you took Calc AB, right? I keep telling him that, but he refuses to listen to me.

I know that grade in the end does matter, but truly it doesn’t in terms of passion. My friend eventually decided to take Calc AB based on his teacher’s recommendation, but now I wonder what the strengths and weaknesses of taking AB vs BC. Do you have to take BC in order to be an engineer?

I myself have taken BC, and barely passed with a B, but I think I can see where he’s coming from. He wants to look good for colleges, and make them realize that he wants to pursue engineering. Personally, I don’t think the course really matters. He should just take the class that fits more with him.

Am I right in saying that you don’t gotta take BC in order to be an engineer?

2

@Progammerdude He doesn’t have to take Calculus BC if he wishes to major in computer engineering. However he will likely have to take the equivalent college course if he hasn’t taken it previously.

I think your friend’s teachers are right; BC seems to draw more heavily from pre-calculus topics (sequences/series, convergence, divergence, polar and spherical coordinates, vector-valued functions), and if he got a C in pre-calculus, I don’t think jumping straight to BC is a good idea.

3

BC is just AB with a few more extra topics. You don’t have to take BC to be an engineer… I know several kids who got into UMich engineering with just Calc AB.

4

In HS, no. In college, yes.

Agreed. And as @MITer94 said, having a C and going into BC will be too much, too soon. Generally, when a teacher recommends something s/he really is thinking about what is best for the student.